Thread: Question on D4

Has the red plug been installed when the hitch has not been fitted ? If not, give the receiver channel a good clean as muck can accumulate up there and cause your problem.

Any liquid lube will make the issue worse when it attracts dust.
We use a spray on graphite spray on our graders,should work better than a wet lube.Just looks like grey primer when dry.
Andrew

Originally Posted by maggsie

Another gremlin is the factory tow-hitch. I have retracted the spring loaded tongue as far as the handle will turn, the tongue will not fit into the receiver as it needs to retract about another 2mm. I dont think the previous owner has ever tried to fit it. Looks like I'll have to do a bit of alteration to make it fit.

I believe your problem is you may not have used the little red key to unlock it prior to fitting it, so tongue will not retract completely.

Imagine the reverse situation, if the tow fitting was inserted into the hitch, it could not be removed because that tongue thing could not be retracted fully without first unlocking it.

Do you have the key? If so, insert it and ensure it is turned the direction of the 'open lock' icon. Then try fitting and turning the handle thingo again.

The mechanism on mine gets choked with gritty dirt that has taken a fair amount of washing out to free then clean-up on the very few occasions it has been removed.

No I still have the two keys supplied from new, the red insert is also in place so the receiver was clean as whistle. The tow hitch has never been on the car in fact I don't think it had ever been removed from the storage area.
Regards
Maggsie